Shane Furrows wins third straight GETA Super Eight Series title in Ekurhuleni
Furrows complimented Rootman for having a good game but said mistakes at the wrong time cost him.
While the match will be remembered for Heinrich Rootman’s moments of brilliance, including a Roger Federer-esque tweener in the second set, top seed Shane Furrows delivered a near-flawless performance to secure his third consecutive Amex Gauteng Ekurhuleni Tennis Association (GETA) Super Eight Series title in Lakefield on July 11.
Furrows outclassed Rootman 6-2, 6-1 on a buzzing Court 14 in what organisers described as the warmest playing conditions in three years.
“I played and served well, and kept the ball going. Before the match I told myself I wasn’t going to miss, and I think I did that well,” said Furrows.
In a repeat of last year’s final on the same court, which Furrows also won, the top seed settled quickly by holding serve with ease.
Rootman responded in the second game after producing a superb drop shot that forced Furrows into a desperate sprint to the net, where his stretched return clipped the tape.
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Trailing 15-30 in the third game, Rootman showed his shot-making ability by moving Furrows from side to side with powerful groundstrokes. However, Furrows regained control, winning the next two points through smart construction to edge 2-1 ahead.
The defining moment of the opening set came in the fourth game. After a lengthy rally, Furrows anticipated a drop shot and moved forward, only for Rootman to produce an exquisite lob that sailed over his head and landed perfectly inside the baseline. Even Furrows acknowledged the quality of the shot.
Rootman’s movement around the court was Djokovic-like, with the second seed sliding effortlessly along the baseline.
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Yet Furrows’ relentless depth and pace consistently forced errors while he patiently waited for opportunities to unleash clean winners.
The top seed surrendered very little. Although Rootman produced a scorching winner off a Furrows drop shot, Furrows remained composed, firing the match’s first ace before reeling off the final two games of the set to claim it 6-2.
The second set featured longer rallies as Rootman fought to stay in contention, but frustration began creeping into his game, with the second seed slamming his racquet onto the court in the third game.
His finest moment arrived soon afterwards. Chasing a deep ball, Rootman sprinted back before producing an outrageous tweener to keep the point alive.
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He followed it with two more spectacular shots, but Furrows absorbed the pressure before finishing with a clinical backhand winner that left Rootman stranded and dropping his racquet in frustration for a second time.
Rootman briefly halted Furrows’ momentum by taking the fourth game, but the top seed quickly reasserted his authority, winning the next three games to seal a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory and a third successive crown.
“Heinrich had some really good moments and played well, but mistakes at the wrong time cost him,” Furrows said.
